[thinker]

Hi -

I've been shopping and am down to a very few cars. I've been giving very serious thought to the 550e. BUT....I just looked at part of the US website and it now seems to say that the EV range is 25 miles. That is so much less than I was anticipating and what I'd understood was going on with the European models. I was expecting more like 50+ miles.

Does anyone know the range on this thing? Any real world users out there yet?

Thanks!

[nacs]

This link shows it is still TBD https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/5-se...specifications

Also per an email from my CA on 8/19:

"BMW is still TBD on the electric range, but based on other PHEV cars and SUVS in the linup, I expect it to be somewhere between 30-40 miles of electric range."

[aherman18]

Does anyone know when to expect the actual EPA range. Looks like 550e will hit US within a month or so?

Thanks.

[thinker]

Hi - This is what I saw posted this morning on the BMWUSA website. I'm reasonably sure this wasn't there before.... hence, I STRONGLY suspect this is here because they got the EPA word. "The next generation of thrills. Featuring an impressive all-electric range of up to 25 miles, the latest fifth-generation eDrive technology provides incredible efficiency and thrilling acceleration."

Found here: https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/5-se...in-hybrid.html

[aherman18]

Originally Posted by thinker

Hi - This is what is posted this morning on the BMWUSA website. I STRONGLY suspect this is here because they got the EPA word. "The next generation of thrills.
Featuring an impressive all-electric range of up to 25 miles, the latest fifth-generation eDrive technology provides incredible efficiency and thrilling acceleration." Found here: https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/5-se...in-hybrid.html

That has been there for a while. If you dig into the specs, the electric range is noted as TBA. The M5 is also listed as 25, so I would expect the 550e to be a bit more.

Based on the Euro models, I should hope the USA is at least 30mi.

Hope we have an answer soon.

Thanks.

[thinker]

Originally Posted by aherman18

That has been there for a while. If you dig into the specs, the electric range is noted as TBA. The M5 is also listed as 25, so I would expect the 550e to be a bit more.

Based on the Euro models, I should hope the USA is at least 30mi.

Hope we have an answer soon.

Thanks.

Thanks - that's very helpful. I thought I'd scoured that website. I've watched several of the youtube reviews and they seem to tbe talking more like 50 miles. Here's another one - is this thing the 19kw or the 25kw battery? If the latter, then the mileage should be well over 50. An X5 50e is routinely just below 50 whle carrying an extra 500lbs.

[aherman18]

I am seeing is 19.4 kw, net.

[thinker]

The website has a TBA type thing now on range.

[BMW5151]

I believe the 750e (same drivetrain) is listed at 31 mile range. Either way, it is really pitiful, but luckily pure EV range is not why I am going to lease the car. BMW has really dropped the ball on PHEVs. Discontinuing the 330e and 530e from the US lineup just when they are gaining in popularity. And discontinuing the X3 30e not that long ago. Discontinuing PHEVs is not going to switch people over to EVs. It will drive customers over to the competition. A friend had a 530e, but lease was up, and no direct replacement at BMW. So after 30 years, he left.

[NJ530]

Isn’t BMW on the conservative side on mileage unlike Tesla?

[aherman18]

Originally Posted by BMW5151

I believe the 750e (same drivetrain) is listed at 31 mile range. Either way, it is really pitiful, but luckily pure EV range is not why I am going to lease the car. BMW has really dropped the ball on PHEVs. Discontinuing the 330e and 530e from the US lineup just when they are gaining in popularity. And discontinuing the X3 30e not that long ago. Discontinuing PHEVs is not going to switch people over to EVs. It will drive customers over to the competition. A friend had a 530e, but lease was up, and no direct replacement at BMW. So after 30 years, he left.

I currently have a 21 530e and get about 17mi electric range. Still, for my use case it works. About 2/3 of my total miles is electric. I run errands or head to the office and then recharge at home.

So, if the 550e has anything greater than 30 miles electric, I will be pleased. The 550e has a 19+ kw battery, the 750e, has, I think, an 18kw battery. So it should be a bit longer range. I'm really surprised that there is no official EPA range at this point.

Don't they have to have the EPA certification before the vehicle can be released?

Thanks.

4

[MongoTom]

Okay, for comparison consider this: my Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has a 16 kWh battery, is 100 lbs heavier, has to be less aerodynamic and gets 30 miles at 75 mph and around town (under 45 mph) can go 45 miles on battery.
The 550e has a 19.4 kWh battery so I’m guessing at least 35-40 miles at 75 mph and over 50 around town.

[aherman18]

Just noticed a change in the website -

While EPA electric range is still TBA, in the 550e description, it now states:

"up to 33 miles".

It has been 25.

Just FYI

[DaveDBD]

The 550e’s battery and electric drive is for having performance like the previous 550’s V8. Any electric only range is just an added capability.

[thinker]

Originally Posted by aherman18

Just noticed a change in the website -

While EPA electric range is still TBA, in the 550e description, it now states:

"up to 33 miles".

It has been 25.

Just FYI

I do wonder a bit what's going on. Over in Porsche world, I see some low quotes on the Cayenne range - but am reasonably sure based on reviews that those numbers don't track real range, either. Could be everyone is under-guessing for a regulatory reason?

[Frupal]

Hi all!

I’m very new to the idea of PHEV and have been considering either the new 5 or 7 series. My reason for getting one of these is for the combined ICE/EV performance. So I find myself wondering why the electric only range is an issue?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[MiGs550e]

Originally Posted by Frupal

Hi all!

I’m very new to the idea of PHEV and have been considering either the new 5 or 7 series. My reason for getting one of these is for the combined ICE/EV performance. So I find myself wondering why the electric only range is an issue?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I agree, I'm getting the 550e not because of the electric only range, but rather the performance and better fuel mileage (I hope). I had a e60 550i and the MPG kinda sucked for daily in-city driving.

[aherman18]

Originally Posted by Frupal

Hi all!

I’m very new to the idea of PHEV and have been considering either the new 5 or 7 series. My reason for getting one of these is for the combined ICE/EV performance. So I find myself wondering why the electric only range is an issue?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I like to use electric around town for commuting and errands. Have the ICE for "fun" and long distance highway driving.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by Frupal

Hi all!

I’m very new to the idea of PHEV and have been considering either the new 5 or 7 series. My reason for getting one of these is for the combined ICE/EV performance. So I find myself wondering why the electric only range is an issue?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

If it isn't clear to those who are new to PHEVs, with a plug-in hybrid, you can typically choose whether you want to drive the car in electric-only mode, or a hybrid mode which uses both the engine and the electric motor. I believe folks are interested in the electric range so they will know how many miles they can do in the car when using electric-only mode for the around the town errands, or for any trip that is not very long. In electric-only mode the engine isn't used at all (the engine stays off), so there is no gasoline usage.

[Juff]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

If it isn't clear to those who are new to PHEVs, with a plug-in hybrid, you can typically choose whether you want to drive the car in electric-only mode, or a hybrid mode which uses both the engine and the electric motor. I believe folks are interested in the electric range so they will know how many miles they can do in the car when using electric-only mode for the around the town errands, or for any trip that is not very long. In electric-only mode the engine isn't used at all (the engine stays off), so there is no gasoline usage.

I got mine G60 530e ~2 weeks ago and here is what I see so far:

• Official spec tells 94-105 km (58-65 miles) in electric-only, but presumably this can only be achieved in extreme conditions (no A/C, no music, no nothing).

• The day of handover it was fully charged and display showed 86 km electric-only range.

• For better battery life, BMW doesn't recommend to charge and store >80% capacity, so that eventually lower electric-only range even further.

• As autumn progress and temperature go down, charging to the same level shows lesser and lesser range: charged to 90% once, car showed 75 km range, few days later, a bit chiller, charged to 90% again - car showed 71 km range.

I'm sure 550e pattern will be similar...

[Frupal]

Thanks for all of the thoughtful responses! I understand now. Many of my trips around home are 2 miles or less. All electric mode could be very useful/practical.

But tbh, most of us don't buy BMWs because they're practical, and I like strong acceleration, even from light to light (not silly, but strong) and I suspect that the all electric mode here would not quite satisfy me.

Perhaps a test drive is in order!

[BMW5151]

If I ever get my 550ex out of recall purgatory, I hope to use it as much like a normal ICE car as possible. Just have the battery to provide additional power, as this car is way down in power from my outgoing M550ix. Yeah, definitely a downgrade in so many ways. Most likely not drive in EV only mode at all. I had no idea one has to set up the charging patterns, limit to 80%, etc. This is a big negative if true. I plan to just plug it into the 110 household power and let it charge overnight until full. This will be a lease car for 36 months, so no concern about the battery degrading in long term.